Thomas p



T. P. LUCAS.

CABLE STOPPER.

(No Model.)

No. 248,831. Patented Oct. 18,1881.

Nrrn 'm'rns arenr THOMAS P. LUCAS, OF GALVESTON, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND JOHN S. BROI/VN, OF SAME PLACE.

CABLE-STOPPER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 248,331, dated October 18, 1881.

Application filed June 28, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, THOMAS P. LUCAS, of Galveston, in the State ofTexas, haveinvented an Improvement in Ghain Stoppers or Clamps, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is for checking the speed of chain-cables as thesame are allowed to run out in casting anchor. The same may also be employed as a riding-bit when the vessel is riding at anchor.

Before my invention chain stoppers had been made of a trough-shaped block with a groove for the chain to run through, above which was a grooved clamping-block with a lever and crank or cam to apply force to the clamping-block to detain the chain by friction and prevent its running out too fast.

In my present invention the chain-links lie diagonally in opposite directions upon the recessed bottom of the clamping-box, and the clamping-block has a similarly recessed under face, so that the links of the chain' as it draws through the clamp pass alternately into the recesses, and then rise over the intermediate projections, and the clamping-block is supported by diagonal flanges that pass into diagonal slots in the vertical sides of the clampingbox, and a forked lever is employed to press the clamping-block toward the bottom of the clamping-box, and thereby apply the required force to the chain to lessen its speed as it runs out; or the said lever may be lashed or otherwise tightly held in place, and the recessed surfaces in contact with the chain will hold the same firmly while the vessel rides at anchor.

1n the drawings, Figure l is a vertical longitudinal section of this cable-clamp. Fig. 2 is a plan view. Fig. 3 is an end elevation, and Fig. 4. shows the recessed face oft-he clamping-block. Fig. 5 is a side view of the clamping-block.

The box is formed of the base a and vertical sides I). The upper surface of the base between the sides is recessed at c c in a manner approximating the indentations that would be made by the links of the chain-cable when pressed into a soft substance, the links of such chain-cable lying diagonally, in the manner indicated in Fi 3. The edges of the recesses are to be rounded, so that the links of the chaincable will draw over them as the chain is running out, and the cable-clamp is to be adapted to the particular chain, and the box is also wide enough to allow shackles andjoint-links to pass through.

The clamping-blockfis provided with a recessed under face, that corresponds with the recessed surface of the bed before described, and there are diagonal flanges h h at the sides of the clamping-block, which flanges pass into diagonal slots or grooves in the vertical sides I) of the box, so that the clamping-block will re main parallel to the bed as it is raised or lowcred.

The lever 7; is made in two parts, one at each side of the box. it is pivoted on the studs or gndgeons l, and the outer ends are joined together, as at m, and there are upon the flanges h projecting pins 0, that pass through slots in the levers 70, so that the clamping-block will be raised or lowered by themove ment of the levers 7c, and the pins 0 will be nearest the fulcrum-studs 1 when the clamping-block is pressed down upon the chain, and hence the leverage will be the most powerful in applying the clamping-block to the chain, and it is to he understood that the recesses and projections between them in the clampingsurface serve to turn the diagonal links more nearly to a horizontal position as they draw through between the clamping-surfaces, and thereby the required force is exerted to detain the chain or else to clamp it firmly when the lever may be pressed down tightly.

I am aware that a chain-stopper has been made of two clamps the faces of which are grooved horizontally in curved lines to produce friction on the chain, and that the upper block has been moved by a lever.

I claim as my invention- The combination, in a chain-stopper, of a box having a recessed surface for the chain to pass over, and diagonal slots in the inner faces of its vertical sides I), a clamping-block, f, having a recessed lower face, diagonal flanges h it, pins 0, that project from the flanges h, the two-part lever it, having slots for the pins 0, and the pivots l for said lever k, substantially as set forth.

Signed by me this 13th day of June, A. D. 1881.

THOMAS P. LUCAS.

Witnesses:

THos. WALSH, J. P. KINDRED. 

